Spontaneous brain tumor imaging of aged rat by crystal X-ray interferometer-based phase-contrast X-ray CT

BACKGROUND: Crystal X-ray interferometer-based phase-contrast X-ray computed tomography (C-PCCT) enables the depiction of internal structures of biological tissue without contrast agents. PURPOSE: To determine the advantage of this technique in visualizing detailed morphological structures of a rare spontaneous brain tumor in an aged rat. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An aged rat’s spontaneous brain tumor was imaged by C-PCCT without contrast agent. Three-dimensional (3D) images of the tumor microvasculature were reconstructed and compared with pathological pictures. RESULTS: C-PCCT depicted the tumor’s various pathological features clearly, e.g. its cell density and vasculature, and blood clots caused by hemorrhaging and/or hematomas. The obtained images resembled pathological pictures with a magnification of ×20 and were used to reconstruct 3D images of the tumor vascularity up to approximately 26 µm in diameter. CONCLUSION: Since C-PCCT is able to depict various pathological conditions, it might be useful for cancer research.